Photos:Saints beat Buccaneers,41-0

Photos:Saints beat Buccaneers,41-0

Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS -- Saints players observe a moment of silence for victims of the school shooting Connecticut Friday before the start of the Saints 41-0 victory over theTampa Bay Buccaneers game Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Drew Brees had been in a bit of a rut during the New Orleans Saints’ recent three-game skid. Not anymore. Though it’s too late to save the Saints’ playoff chances, Brees made easy work of Tampa Bay’s league-worst pass defense, and the Saints recorded their first shutout in 17 years with a 41-0 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday, virtually ending Tampa Bay’s already slim playoff hopes.